Fluid applicator pressure control device

ABSTRACT

In combination with a fluid applicator of the fluid marker type, a deformable plug for sealing within the interior of the applicator the fluid from a pressure means and transferring pressure toward and away from the fluid.

United. States Patent [1 1 Adams I [451 Dec..17, 1974 FLUID APPLICATOR PRESSURE CONTROL DEVICE [75] Inventor: Patrick J. Adams, Bellefontaine,

Ohio

[73] Assignee: Artex Hobby Products, Inc., Lima,

Ohio

[22] Filed: Dec. 26, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 427,660

[52] US. Cl. 401/188, 401/141 [51] Int. Cl B43k 5/02, B43k 7/10 [58] Field of Search 401/187-189,

[56] References Cited 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,333,451 ll/1943 Sussman et a1. 401/145 Morris 401/188 A 2,560,810 7/1951 2,787,249 4/1957 Barlow et al 3,115,868 12/1963 De Moun et a1 401/188 A 3,181,539 5/1965 Aston 401/188 A 3,256,894 6/1966 Sherman 401/188 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 913,371 12/1962 Great Britain.. 401/188 58,110 1211953 France 401/144 645,705 11/1950 Great Britain... 401/141 Primary Examiner--Lawrence Charles 57 ABSTRACT In combination with a 'fluid applicator of the fluid marker type, a deformable plug for sealing within the interior of the applicator the fluid from a pressure means and transferring pressure toward and away from the fluid.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures FLUID APPLICATOR PRESSURE CONTROL DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to fluid applicators and, more specifically, to applicators of the type known as markers wherein marking fluid contained in an elongated cylindrical body is dispensed under pres- I sure through a tip at one end of the applicator having an opening in communication with the interior fluid supply of the applicator. The other end of such devices has pump means for developing and applying pressure to the marking fluid to control its flow through the tip in accordance with a selected rate of a particular user.

At present, rigid reciprocal devices are used within the tube to separate the pumped fluid from the marking fluid and to exert pressure on the marking fluid. As pressure is increased on the pump side of the reciprocal device it is forced against the marking fluid increasing the pump pressure thereon. In operation, as marking fluid is dispensed from the container, the volume filled by the fluid is reduced while the pressure on the rigid device maintains it in pressed relationship against the fluid maintaining pressure thereon. Thus, as a quantity of fluid is displaced from the container 'due to its application the-rigid device will travel with the fluid as aresult of the pressure on the device. But as pressure is reduced on the rigid device there is residual pressure maintained on the fluid by the rigid device. This residual pressure detracts from the control in applying the fluid since reduced pressure on the device does not produce a corresponding reduction in pressure on the fluid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION a wall bearing section in sealed engagement with the interior walls of the body to seal the marking fluid chamer from the pumped fluid chamber. The plug has a pressure transferring section which moves relative to the wall bearing section for transferring pressure from one chamber to the other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial cross-section of a fluid applicator showing a plug in a depressurized position.

FIG. 2 is a magnified view of the area surrounding the plug as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the plug of FIG. 2 in a pressurized position after some of the fluid has been applied.

FIG. 4 shows the plug of FIG. 3 in a depressurized position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a fluid applicator 1 defined by a generally cylindrical, elongated, hollow body 2 having a tip 3 at one end and apump 4 at the other. Intermediate the pump and the tip is provided a deformable plug 5 which separates the hollow body 2 into a marking fluid chamber 6 and a pumped fluid chamber 7. The pump is connected at one end of the elongated body such that'it is in communication with the pumped fluid chamber. Similarly, the tip is attached to the other end of the elongated body in communication with the marking fluid chamber.

The pump which is used to supply pressure to the pumped fluid chamber 7 is shown more clearly in FIG. 2. There, the pump is shown as having an elastomeric bulb 8 with an aperture 8a therethrough at its apogee. The elastomeric bulb is attached to the interior of the elongated body 2 by crimpcd edge 9. A washer 10 has a lip 10a which cooperates with the interior of the elongated body adjacent crimped edge 9 for securing the elastomeric bulb in place. In close frictional contact with the internal walls of the elongated, body is valve body 11- located adjacent washer 10 and abutting lower' end 12 of bulb 8. Depending from valve body 11 are valve lips 13 which define slitted orifice 14. Valve body 11, valve lips 13 and washer l0 define valve chamber 15 on one side of the washer. Similarly, elastomeric bulb 8, washer l0, and lip 10a define a bulb chamber 18 defined by cylindrical walls 19 and flexible diaphragm 20. The cylindrical walls 19 are in sufficiently close contact with the walls of elongated body to allow movement of the plug but provide a seal between the marking fluid chamber 6 and the pumped pressure chamber 7. The diaphragm 20 is connected to the cylindrical walls 19 of cup 18 by flexible portion 21 which allows the diaphragm to move independently of the remainder of the plug. In FIG. 2' the plug is shown in a depressurized position in close contact with fluid 22 in marking fluid chamber. In this depressurized position the diaphragm 20 is concave configuration relative to marking fluid 22. In FIG. 3 the plug is shown in a pressurized position with diaphragm 20 in a convex config-v causing valvelips 13 to part in the manner shown. Be- I cause of the manner in which the lips are disposed toward each other air can only pass in one direction due 'to the pumping action. Thus, when the bulb is released air will not flow out of th pressure chamber v7 allowing a build-up of pressure in the pressure chamber by successive actuation of the bulb. Y

Once the desired pressure within the pumped fluid chamberis reached themarking fluid may be applied. As marking fluid is withdrawnfrom the marking fluid chamber for application the diaphragm will move toward the marking fluid independently of the remainder of the plug until it reaches its maximum extension, a.

convex position shown in FIG. 3. As marking fluid, is continued to be withdrawn after the diaphragm has fluid, and pressure is maintained in the pumped fluid chamber, the entire cup will travel within the elongated body moving toward the marking fluid.

When it is desired to release pressure on the marking fluid, an elongated object must be thrust through openings 8a and 17 directly against lips 13 inorder to open the seal which they affect. Release of pressure in the pumped fluid chamber will be transferred almost immediately from the marking fluid by movement of the plugs deformable portion. This reduction in pressure will cause diaphragm 20 of cup,l8 to move away from the marking fluid toward the valve body 11 relative the cylindrical walls of the cup via the flexible portion 21. In this manner, the pressure which is normally needed to overcome friction between the cup and the interior walls of the elongated body to move the cup is absorbed and transferred by the flexible diaphragm, thus yielding better response and ultimately more control over the flow through the tip.

We claim:

1. In a fluid applicator having a hollow elongated body, a marking fluid chamber within the body for containing a quantity of the marking fluid, a pumped fluid chamber within the body, separator means for separating the chambers, a pump in communication with the pumped fluid chamber and a tip in communication with the marking fluid chamber, an improvement comprising separator means including a deformable plug means having:

a. a wall bearing section proportioned to be substantially in sealed engagement with the interior walls of said body for sealing said marking fluid chamber from said pumped fluid chamberi b. a pressure transfer section connected to and movable relative to said wall bearing section for trans- 2. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein said pressure transfer section is a flexible diaphragm connected to'said wall bearing section.

3. The applicator according to claim 2 wherein said hollow elongated body is substantially cylindrical and a I said wall bearing section is a cup.

4. The applicator according to claim 3 wherein said diaphragm has a maximum extension toward and away from said marking fluid whereby as pressure in said pressure chamber is increased above that of said marking fluid chamber, the diaphragm will move toward said marking fluid to equalize pressure between the chambers until it reaches its maximum extension and as pressure is reduced in said pressure chamber below that of said marking fluid chamber, said diaphragm will move away from said marking fluid to equalize pressure between the chambers until said diaphragm reaches its maximum extension,said movement occurring withoutv substantial movement of said cup.

5. The applicator according to claim 4 wherein as 'marking fluid is withdrawn from said marking fluid chamber after said diaphragm has reached its maximum extension toward said marking fluid and substantial pressure relative said marking fluid is maintained in said pressure chamber, said entire plug will move toward said fluid. r 6. The applicator according to claim 5 wherein as pressure in said pumped chamber is maintained subvstantially below that of said marking fluid chamber ferring pressures to and from fluids in said fluid chambers,.the wall bearing and pressure transfer sections being formed so that changes in pressure cause said pressure transfer section to move prior to movement of said wall bearing section in response to pressure changes.

after said diaphragm has reached its maximum extension away from said marking fluid, said entire plug will move away from said marking fluid.

7. The applicator according to claim 3 wherein as pressure in said pumped fluid chamber is initially reduced below that of the marking fluid chamber said diaphragm moves away from said marking fluid until it reaches its maximum extension without substantial movement of the cupsuch' that an increased response time occurs in transferring a reduction in pressure from the pumped fluid chamber to the marking fluid chamber. 

1. In a fluid applicator having a hollow elongated body, a marking fluid chamber within the body for containing a quantity of the marking fluid, a pumped fluid chamber within the body, separator means for separating the chambers, a pump in communication with the pumped fluid chamber and a tip in communication with the marking fluid chamber, an improvement comprising separator means including a deformable plug means having: a. a wall bearing section proportioned to be substantially in sealed engagement with the interior walls of said body for sealing said marking fluid chamber from said pumped fluid chamber; b. a pressure transfer section connected to and movable relative to said wall bearing section for transferring pressures to and from fluids in said fluid chambers, the wall bearing and pressure transfer sections being formed so that changes in pressure cause said pressure transfer section to move prior to movement of said wall bearing section in response to pressure changes.
 2. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein said pressure transfer section is a flexible diaphragm connected to said wall bearing section.
 3. The applicator according to claim 2 wherein said hollow elongated body is substantially cylindrical and said wall bearing section is a cup.
 4. The applicator according to claim 3 wherein said diaphragm has a maximum extension toward and away from said marking fluid whereby as pressure in said pressure chamber is increased above that of said marking fluid chamber, the diaphragm will move toward said marking fluid to equalize pressure between the chambers until it reaches its maximum extension and as pressure is reduced in said pressure chamber below that of said marking fluid chamber, said diaphragm will move away from said marking fluid to equalize pressure between the chambers until said diaphragm reaches its maximum extension, said movement occurring without substantial movement of said cup.
 5. The applicator according to claim 4 wherein as marking fluid is withdrawn from said marking fluid chamber after said diaphragm has reached its maximum extension toward said marking fluid and substantial pressure relative said marking fluid is maintained in said pressure chamber, said entire plug will move toward said fluid.
 6. The applicator according to claim 5 wherein as pressure in said pumped chamber is maintained substantially below that of said marking fluid chamber after said diaphragm has reached its maximum extension away from said marking fluid, said entire plug will move away from said marking fluid.
 7. The applicator according to claim 3 wherein as pressure in said pumped fluid chamber is initially reduced below that of the marking fluid chamber said diaphragm moves away from said marking fluid until it reaches its maximum extension without substantial movement of the cup such that an increased response time occurs in transferring a reduction in pressure from the pumped fluid chamber to the marking fluid chamber. 